Herbert wins Belleville Nationals

Thursday

Aug 8, 2013 at 12:34 AM

Special to the Globe

Ray Seemann seemingly powered to victory on Saturday night to capture the finale for the 2013 United Rebel Sprint Series Speedweek. But after Seemann failed post race inspections it was Dodge City's Brian Herbert declared the winner of the 3rd Annual URSS Belleville NatIonals. It was Herbert's second win of the 2013 campaign and while that may not seem like a large total, it is quite a feat considering that only two other drivers have visited victory lane multiple times this season. Herbert's win also breaks a streak of five consecutive wins for Plains driver Luke Cranston.Woodward, Okla. driver Jordan Weaver would lead the field to the green for the twenty lap show down on the hammer down half mile. Weaver would charge out of the gate and move to the lead, a lead that would be short lived as Fowler's Richie Dewell would take the point on the second circuit. The top five would be restless for the first half of the twenty lapper and would see the heavy hitters of the United Rebel Sprint Series carve up the speedway and battle for position. Seemann, who gridded the field in the seventh slot, would charge into the top five on the first lap bringing Herbert along for the ride.Herbert and Seemann's push to the front would be checked momentarily by Keefe Hemel. A battle would ensue, that would see the past two Rebel Champions move around Hemel, bumping the Cimarron, Kansas driver off the podium.The twelfth round would see Seemann blast by Dewell for the lead, but Dewell not wanting to yield the top slot would be persistent, dogging the "Rainman" in second. Herbert would continue to dig and his car would get stronger as more laps would be scored. Herbert, finding another groove, would blow by Dewell and was poised to strike.Flying off turn four, with the checkered flag flying and the Highbanks crowd on their feet, Herbert would use the short side of the half mile to close to a car length but that would be all. Seemann would grab his apparent second win of the year and his second in Belleville. The first coming in 2010, the inaugural run for the Rebels at the speedway. Herbert would settle for second and Luke Cranston would climb to third rounding out the podium.Due to discrepancies in post race inspection, URSS Officials elected to have Seemann bring his car to a cleaner and more controlled environment, where the car was thoroughly checked and declared not within URSS rules, giving the win to Brian Herbert and moving everyone else up one spot.The Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard charger award went to Luke Cranston who started in 9th advancing seven positions.Cranston earns the URSS speed week crown with a runner up finish in Dodge City, a seventh, a fifth, and a win during three nights at the 5 State Fair and a second place finish at the high banks.BELLEVILLE NATIONALS A Feature (20 Laps): 1.Brian Herbert, 2. Luke Cranston, 3. Richie Dewell, 4. Jake Bubak, 5. Wyatt Burks, 6. Jordan Weaver, 7. Keefe Hemel, 8. Jeff Radcliffe, 9. Steven Richardson, 10. Jon Webster, 11. Howard VanDyke, 12. DNF Kris Miller, 13. DNF Darren Bowman. DQ Ray SeemannLap Leaders: Jordan Weaver (1-2), Richie Dewell (3-10), Ray Seemann (11-20)Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Richie Dewell, 2. Jake Bubak, 3. Wyatt Burks, 4. Kris Miller, 5. Steven Richardson, 6. Keefe Hemel, 7. DNS Howard VanDykeHeat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Ray Seemann, 2. Brian Herbert, 3.Jordan Weaver, 4. Luke Crantson, 5. Jeff Radcliffe, 6. Jon Webster, 7. Darren Bowman